Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrata Class Amphibia

Kingdom Animalia Ø Phylum Chordata Ø Subphylum Vertebrata Ø Class Amphibia

Class Amphibia Ø Ø Ø 1. 2. 3. 4. Amphi = both Bios = lives Examples: salamanders (including newts & efts) caecilians frogs toads

Salamanders (including newts & efts) Tiger salamander

Salamanders (including newts & efts) Jeffersonian salamander

Salamanders (including newts & efts) Eastern Hellbender

Salamanders (including newts & efts) Marbled Salamander

Salamanders (including newts & efts) Red-spotted salamander

Salamanders (including newts & efts) Northern Red salamander

Salamanders (including newts & efts) Axolotl

Salamanders (including newts & efts) Red eft

Caecilians

Frogs

Frogs Leopard frog

Poison Dart Frog

African clawed frog

Gastric Brooding Frog

Goliath frog

Tomato frog

Flying frog

Toads Boreal toad

Boreal toad

Cane toad

American toad

Surinam Toad (frog? )

General Information Ø 3, 400 species Ø Habitat: l l Adults: terrestrial Sub – adults (larvae): aquatic (freshwater)

Skeleton – Bony Ø Limbs - Tetrapods (“ 4 feet”) l Some legless (Caecilians) l Feet often webbed (for swimming) l Forelimbs usually with 4 digits

Skin Ø Smooth & moist Ø No scales Ø Lungs (most adults) Ø Gills ( tadpoles) Ø Ectothermal – use environment to regulate body temperature

Skin glands Name of gland Function Mucus Prevent dehydration Wax Prevent dehydration Poison Defense Pigment (chromatophores) Defense / Camouflage

Reproduction Ø Dioecious Ø Internal fertilization – salamanders & caecilians Ø External fertilization – frogs & toads

Reproduction Ø Viviparous – eggs must be kept moist Ø Metamorphosis – (usually present) eggs → larvae (sub-adults) → adults

Metamorphosis

Three Orders 1. Order Gymnophiona “naked snake” – caecilians (a. k. a. Apoda) 2. Order Caudata “ having a tail” – salamanders, newts, efts 3. Order Anura “ without tail” – frogs & toads

Order Gymnophiona (caecilians)Ø Rare Ø Limbless Ø Habitat: Burrow in earth, tropical habitats Ø Feeding: worms & small invertebrates

Order Caudata (salamanders, etc. ) Ø Habitat: all moist Northern temperate habitats Ø Feeding: adults & larvae carnivorous (moving prey, small invertebrates) Ø Internal fertilization

Order Anura (frogs & toads) Ø Ø Ø Habitat: 1. adults: terrestrial, moist soil 2. larvae: fresh water Feeding: External fertilization (amplexus) Endangered world-wide Sentinel species: very sensitive to environmental changes ( E. g. uv exposure, water pollution ) due to dependence on moist/ aquatic envmnt.